Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: earl1937 on November 02, 2013, 04:23:02 PM
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:airplane: One of the great under reported history of the early war years in the South Pacific was the saga of the Gruman FM2 "wildcat". As time and events unfolded during the war,and because of more faster and better fighters, the FM2 was assigned duty on small escort carriers from mid 1943 until the end of the war.
(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p684/earl1937/FM2_zps9b08d953.jpg)
The Wildcat was generally outperformed by the Mitsubishi Zero, its major opponent in the early part of the Pacific Theater, but held its own partly because, with relatively heavy armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, the Grumman airframe could survive far more damage than its lightweight, unarmored Japanese rival. Many U.S. Navy fighter pilots also were saved by the Wildcat's ZB homing device, which allowed them to find their carriers in poor visibility, provided they could get within the 30 mi (48 km) range of the homing beacon.
In the hands of an expert pilot using tactical advantage, the Wildcat could prove to be a difficult foe even against the formidable Zero. After analyzing Fleet Air Tactical Unit Intelligence Bureau reports describing the new carrier fighter, USN Commander "Jimmy" Thach devised a defensive strategy that allowed Wildcat formations to act in a coordinated maneuver to counter a diving attack, called the "Thach Weave.
(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p684/earl1937/fm2taxiing_zps06a944c1.jpg)
Note the size of the man in the cockpit to give you some reference as to how small this aircraft was.
Grumman's Wildcat production ceased in early 1943 to make way for the newer F6F Hellcat, but General Motors continued producing Wildcats for both U.S. Navy and Fleet Air Arm use. At first, GM produced the FM-1 (identical to the F4F-4, but with four guns). Production later switched to the improved FM-2 (based on Grumman's XF4F-8 prototype) optimized for small-carrier operations, with a more powerful engine, and a taller tail to cope with the increased torque.
From 1943 onward, Wildcats equipped with bomb racks were primarily assigned to escort carriers for use against submarines and attacking ground targets, though they would also continue to score kills against Japanese fighters, bombers and kamikaze aircraft. Larger fighters such as the Hellcat and the Corsair and dedicated dive bombers were needed aboard fleet carriers, and the Wildcat's slower landing speed made it more suitable for shorter flight decks.
In the Battle off Samar on 25 October 1944, escort carriers of Task Unit 77.4.3 ("Taffy 3") and their escort of destroyers and destroyer escorts found themselves as the sole force standing between vulnerable troop transport and supply ships engaged in landings on the Philippine island of Leyte and a powerful Japanese surface fleet of battleships and cruisers. In desperation, lightly armed Avengers and FM-2 Wildcats from Taffys 1, 2 and 3 resorted to tactics such as strafing ships, including the bridge of the Japanese battleship Yamato, while the destroyers and destroyer escorts charged the enemy. Confused by the fierce resistance, the Japanese fleet eventually withdrew from the battle.
Four U.S. Marine Corps Wildcats played a prominent role in the defence of Wake Island in December 1941. USN and USMC aircraft formed the fleet's primary air defense during the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway, and land-based Wildcats played a major role during the Guadalcanal Campaign of 1942–43. It was not until 1943 that more advanced naval fighters capable of taking on the Zero on more even terms, the Grumman F6F Hellcat and Vought F4U Corsair, reached the South Pacific theatre.
7,860 Wildcats were built. During the course of the war, Navy and Marine F4Fs and FMs flew 15,553 combat sorties (14,027 of these from aircraft carriers, destroying 1,327 enemy aircraft at a cost of 178 aerial losses, 24 to ground/shipboard fire, and 49 to operational causes (an overall kill-to-loss ratio of 6.9:1). True to their escort fighter role, Wildcats dropped only 154 tons of bombs during the war.
This little fighter here in Aces High is a highly respected opponent in aerial combat, as in the hands of a capable pilot, this thing is hard to kill!
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Thanks for the info earl! :salute
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The FM-2 really is one of the hidden gems of the planeset. Good gun package, easy to fly, quite maneuverable, very hard to hit, and can take a hell of a beating even when you can get a shot in. It's still slow and not a remarkable climber (though much improved over the F4F-4), but is nonetheless a damn fine machine all-around, and one of my favorite "scramble" birds if I'm headed into a low-level fight near my takeoff point.
Still hoping when the Wildcats get remodeled they add a true F4F-3, tho.
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The FM-2 really is one of the hidden gems of the planeset. Good gun package, easy to fly, quite maneuverable, very hard to hit, and can take a hell of a beating even when you can get a shot in. It's still slow and not a remarkable climber (though much improved over the F4F-4), but is nonetheless a damn fine machine all-around, and one of my favorite "scramble" birds if I'm headed into a low-level fight near my takeoff point.
Still hoping when the Wildcats get remodeled they add a true F4F-3, tho.
The F4F-4 and FM2 are suspiciously tough in AH in my opinion. Aluminum and steel are, ultimately, just aluminum and steel and there is only so much you can do with a given amount to make an aircraft tougher. The F4F and FM2 are about the same mass as a Spitfire, yet manage to be, perhaps, two or three times as durable as a Spitfire.
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With 75% internal and the four gun package the F4F-4 has almost the exact same performance as the FM2 except for not having WEP. Considering that loss of additional performance I prefer the F4F-4 as the better perk farmer.
As to a comparison against a Spitfire the Spit is a larger aircraft and they didn't call it the Grumman Iron Works for no reason.
I love those Grumman aircraft but the F4F/FM2 are too slow to be effective in many MA situations. Even the F6F is sometimes too slow. If you're going to fly these planes then you're going to stand and fight no matter what's thrown at you because you're not going to be able to disengage.
My best sortie in a FM2; 7 kills landed in base defense followed by 4 more immediately after. My most recent fun in an F4F-4; me on 8-10 near an enemy airfield a week or two ago... quite memorable. In fact most of my most memorable fights when vastly outnumbered have been in the F4F or FM2.
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The F4F-4 and FM2 are suspiciously tough in AH in my opinion. Aluminum and steel are, ultimately, just aluminum and steel and there is only so much you can do with a given amount to make an aircraft tougher. The F4F and FM2 are about the same mass as a Spitfire, yet manage to be, perhaps, two or three times as durable as a Spitfire.
It isn't just materials, but how it's all put together, too. Carrier birds tend to be overbuilt compared to land-based machines just to survive the rough handling they go through through normal operations, it's really no surprise that it would lead to an aircraft that's tougher all around (case in point: as lightly built as the Zero is, it's STILL more durable than the Ki-43).
I love those Grumman aircraft but the F4F/FM2 are too slow to be effective in many MA situations. Even the F6F is sometimes too slow. If you're going to fly these planes then you're going to stand and fight no matter what's thrown at you because you're not going to be able to disengage.
That's why the FM-2 is my go-to bird for defense. Don't have to go far, base is right there if I've got to run, decent if not spectacular climb to altitude. And a ton of ammunition.
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The FM-2 is actually a mid to late war bird that was intended for escort carrier use. It should not be confused with the F4f as they really are two different animals with the FM-2 having a superior climb rate and a slightly better top speed. I find the FM-2 to be a better turner than the F4f, but that is just a personal seat of the pants feeling with no hard data to back it up.
Grumman is known as the iron works for a reason. They have a reputation for building very rugged aircraft that can take a beating and still make it home.
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The FM-2 is actually a mid to late war bird that was intended for escort carrier use. It should not be confused with the F4f as they really are two different animals with the FM-2 having a superior climb rate and a slightly better top speed. I find the FM-2 to be a better turner than the F4f, but that is just a personal seat of the pants feeling with no hard data to back it up.
Grumman is known as the iron works for a reason. They have a reputation for building very rugged aircraft that can take a beating and still make it home.
Oh, I think it should be more rugged, no doubt of that. I just think it is exaggerated.
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I find the FM-2 to be a better turner than the F4f, but that is just a personal seat of the pants feeling with no hard data to back it up.
The F4F-4 suffered the same problem as the F2A-3, if not as badly, and was really a little too heavy for its power plant. What you're probably experiencing is that the FM-2 has a bit more power (1350hp as opposed to 1200) and a little less weight, so won't bleed energy as badly during maneuvers. The FM-2 has power to spare to throw it through maneuvers, while the F4F-4 starts to feel sluggish during extended maneuvering.
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The F4F-4 suffered the same problem as the F2A-3, if not as badly, and was really a little too heavy for its power plant. What you're probably experiencing is that the FM-2 has a bit more power (1350hp as opposed to 1200) and a little less weight, so won't bleed energy as badly during maneuvers. The FM-2 has power to spare to throw it through maneuvers, while the F4F-4 starts to feel sluggish during extended maneuvering.
That's quite possible, like I said it was a seat of the pants feeling with no quantitative data to back it up.
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Bob Barker, the former host of "The Price is Right" was an FM-2 pilot during WW2.
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I hope the F4F and FM2 update is coming soon. I really do enjoy flying those planes, but they've still got AH1 modeling. :cry
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If you've never seen this it's an absolutely amazing story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_32ZspW80v4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_32ZspW80v4)
And how would you like to have this day in the MA?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadMxLadg18 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadMxLadg18)
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Bob Barker, the former host of "The Price is Right" was an FM-2 pilot during WW2.
:airplane: I didn't know that and FYI, Bob is making a current TV come back! Along this same line, many famous people flew for the U.S. during WW2, James Stewart, Clark Cable, Smokey Yunick, (not sure name spelled right), Sen. McGovern, former President candidate, who flew B-24's in N. Africa and Italy. I am sure I have missed mentioning some more people who are worthy of mention, but can't remember them right now. Of course, we also have to remember the "The Lone Eagle", Chas Lindburg, who, although a civilian, flew some combat missions in the South Pacific in both the P-38 and the F4U aircraft.
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I hope the F4F and FM2 update is coming soon. I really do enjoy flying those planes, but they've still got AH1 modeling. :cry
I also hope they separate the F4F-3/4 airframe as well.
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George Bush flew 58 combat missions in TBM's off the San Jacinto. Ed McMahon was an instructor Marine fighter pilot. Tyrone Power was a transport pilot in the Pacific.
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Mr. Wizard was a B-24 pilot.
Tom Landry was a B-17 pilot.
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Celebs that served during WWII (whether pilots or not):
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/don-adams.jpg)
Don Adams (1923-2005) [Get Smart, tv] served with the U.S. Marine Corps during WW II in the Pacific. He was wounded during the Battle of Guadalcanal and he contracted malaria, nearly dying of blackwater fever. Upon his recovery and return to the States, he served as a drill instructor.
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/robert-altman.jpg)
Robert Altman (1925-2006) [The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947); co-wrote screenplay: Bodyguard (1948)] was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to B.C. (an insurance salesman) and Helen Altman. He entered St. Peters Catholic school at the age six, and spent a short time at a Catholic high school. From there, he went to Rockhurst High School. It was then that he became interested in the art of exploring sound with the cheap tape recorders available at the time. He was later sent to Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri where he attended through Junior College. In 1945, he enlisted in the Air Force and became a B-24 co-pilot with the 307th Bomb Group.. After his discharge from the military, he became fascinated by movies and he and his first wife, LaVonne Elmer, moved to Hollywood.
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/james-arness.jpg)
James Arness (1923-2011) [Island in the Sky (1953); tv Gunsmoke (1955-1975)]. Served in the U.S. Army during WW II and was severely wounded in the Battle of Anzio, leading to a lifelong limp. His military awards and medals include: the Bronze Star; the Purple Heart; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze star devices; World War II Victory Medal; and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/gene-autry.jpg)
Gene Autry (1907-1998) [singing cowboy in westerns] joined the Army Air Forces in 1942 and became Sgt. Gene Autry. During the war he ferried fuel, ammunition, and arms in the China-India-Burma theater of war and flew over the Himalayas, the hazardous air route known as "The Hump." When the war ended, Autry was reassigned to Special Services where he toured with a USO troupe in the South Pacific before resuming his movie career in 1946.
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/martin-balsam.jpg)
Martin Balsam (1914-1996) was an American character actor. He studied dramatics at the New School in New York City and then served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. In 1947 he was selected by Elia Kazan and Lee Strasberg to be a player in the Actors' Studio television program and went on to appear in a number of television plays in the 1950s and returned frequently to television as a guest star on numerous dramas. Balsam appeared in such film as On the Waterfront (1954); as Juror #1 in 12 Angry Men (1957); Psycho (1960); as the police chief in Cape Fear (1962); Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961); Seven Days in May (1964); Catch-22 (1970); and Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970). In 1967 he won a Tony Award for his appearance in the 1967 Broadway production of You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running.
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/charles-bronson.jpg)
Charles Bronson (1921-2003) [The Great Escape (1963); Death Wish (1974)]. Joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 and served as an aircraft gunner in the 760th Flexible Gunnery Training Squadron, and in 1945 as a B-29 Superfortress tail gunner with the 39th Bombardment Group based on Guam. He also served on Tinian and Saipan. He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received during his service.
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/jeff-corey.jpg)
Jeff Corey (1914-2002) [My Friend Flicka (1943); Joan of Arc (1948); Home of the Brave (1949)]. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and became a film and television character actor as well as one of the top acting teachers in America. He joined the U.S. Navy Photographic Service in 1943 and was assigned to the aircraft carrier Yorktown as a motion picture combat photographer. He earned three citations while serving during the War, including one for shooting footage on the Yorktown during a kamikaze attack on the ship. The citation, which was awarded in October 1945, read: "His sequence of a Kamikaze attempt on the Carrier Yorktown, done in the face of grave danger, is one of the great picture sequences of the war in the Pacific, and reflects the highest credit upon Corey and the U.S. Navy Photographic Service." [Text excerpted from IMDB]
Tons morfe here: http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/wwii-movie-stars.html
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(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/russell-johnson.jpg)
Russell Johnson (1924- ) [The Professor on Gilligan's Island]. Earned a Purple Heart for injuries during battle when his B-24 Liberator bomber was shot down during a bombing run against Japanese targets in the Philippine Islands in March 1945.
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/brian-keith.jpg)
Brian Keith (1921-1997) [The Violent Men (1955); The Rare Breed (1966)]. Served as a U.S. Marine (1942-1945). He was an air gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific and received an Air Medal.
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/george-kennedy.jpg)
George Kennedy (1925- ) [The Dirty Dozen (1967); Airport '77 (1977)]. He enlisted in the Army during World War II and went on to serve 16 years, both in combat as an officer under Gen. George Patton, and in his later years, as an Armed Forces Radio and Television officer. He portrayed Patton in the 78 movie Brass Target. Due to his tall, enormously broad frame, Kennedy was frequently cast in the 1960s and 1970s as bullies and thugs, and had the distinction of brutalizing stars like Cary Grant, Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood on screen while gaining a reputation off-screen as one of the nicest actors around. By his 60s he finally got the chance to play friendlier characters, such as his lovable Capt. Ed Hocken in the Naked Gun films.
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(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/russell-johnson.jpg)
Russell Johnson (1924- ) [The Professor on Gilligan's Island]. Earned a Purple Heart for injuries during battle when his B-24 Liberator bomber was shot down during a bombing run against Japanese targets in the Philippine Islands in March 1945.
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/brian-keith.jpg)
Brian Keith (1921-1997) [The Violent Men (1955); The Rare Breed (1966)]. Served as a U.S. Marine (1942-1945). He was an air gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific and received an Air Medal.
(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/george-kennedy.jpg)
George Kennedy (1925- ) [The Dirty Dozen (1967); Airport '77 (1977)]. He enlisted in the Army during World War II and went on to serve 16 years, both in combat as an officer under Gen. George Patton, and in his later years, as an Armed Forces Radio and Television officer. He portrayed Patton in the 78 movie Brass Target. Due to his tall, enormously broad frame, Kennedy was frequently cast in the 1960s and 1970s as bullies and thugs, and had the distinction of brutalizing stars like Cary Grant, Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood on screen while gaining a reputation off-screen as one of the nicest actors around. By his 60s he finally got the chance to play friendlier characters, such as his lovable Capt. Ed Hocken in the Naked Gun films.
:airplane: Great info!
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Hollywood stars of the 1940s put careers on hold to fight for freedom. Movie stars of World War II earned more than 300 medals and awards that honor their valor. U.S. awards and medals include Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Crosses, Air Medals, Bronze Stars, Presidential Unit Citations, Purple Hearts, and a Congressional Medal of Honor.
Number of Hollywood stars of the 2000's that put careers on hold to fight: 0
Number of awards earned: 0
Number of medals earned: 0
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I don't exactly know that you can compare the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to WWII, though. Certainly not without Skuzzy busting down the door with the ban hammer.
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I don't exactly know that you can compare the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to WWII, though. Certainly not without Skuzzy busting down the door with the ban hammer.
Just a simple observation Saxman. People can take from it what they will. :D
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Great post!
Joe Foss, founder of the AFL and youngest Governer of South Dakota was the leading Marine ace in WWII and was with the Cactus AF.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Foss
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(http://wonderfulworldofimages.com/wwii-movie-stars/charles-bronson.jpg)
Charles Bronson (1921-2003) [The Great Escape (1963); Death Wish (1974)]. Joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 and served as an aircraft gunner in the 760th Flexible Gunnery Training Squadron, and in 1945 as a B-29 Superfortress tail gunner with the 39th Bombardment Group based on Guam. He also served on Tinian and Saipan. He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received during his service.
Wow, I wouldn't want to be the one staring down the barrel held by Charles Bronson...
He was probably blasting away at the zeros with his 6 shooter! "Once upon a time in the west" is one of my all time favorites.
Compare those guys to modern hollywood stars. I remember there were some issues with Silvester Stallone et al. filming "Rambo 3" in Israel for fear of terrorism... oh the irony.
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And not to forget: (From Wikipedia)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Audie_Murphy.png/250px-Audie_Murphy.png)
Audie Leon Murphy (June 20, 1925 – May 28, 1971) was one of the most famous and decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. He was awarded every U.S. military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, and was also decorated by France and Belgium. He served in the Mediterranean and European Theater of Operations. He was presented the Medal of Honor for his defensive actions against German troops on January 26, 1945, at the Colmar Pocket near Holtzwihr, France. During an hour-long siege, he stood alone on a burning tank destroyer firing a machine gun at attacking German soldiers and tanks. Wounded and out of ammunition, Murphy climbed off the tank, refused medical attention, and led his men on a successful counter assault. In 2013, he was posthumously awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor.
When he heard the news of Japan's December 7 attack on Pearl Harbor he tried to enlist in the Marines, the Navy and the Army, but was turned down for being underweight and underage. He added weight with a change in diet, and gave the Army a sworn affidavit from his sister Corrine that falsified his birth date by a year. Murphy enlisted on June 30, 1942 in Dallas. During his physical examination his height was registered as 5 feet 5.5 inches and his weight as 112 pounds.
Murphy was plagued by insomnia and bouts of depression, related to his military service. He slept with a loaded pistol under his pillow. A post-service medical examination on June 17, 1947, revealed symptoms of headaches, vomiting, and nightmares about war. The medical record shows that sleeping pills helped prevent the nightmares. During the mid-1960s, he recognized his dependence on Placidyl, and locked himself alone in a hotel room for a week to successfully break the addiction. Post-traumatic stress levels exacerbated his innate moodiness, and surfaced in episodes that friends and professional colleagues found alarming. His first wife, Wanda Hendrix, stated that he once held her at gunpoint. She witnessed her husband being moved to tears by newsreel footage of German war orphans, guilt-ridden that his war actions might have been the cause of their having no parents. Murphy briefly found a creative stress outlet in writing poetry after his Army discharge. His poem "The Crosses Grow on Anzio" appeared in his book To Hell and Back, but was attributed to the fictitiously named Kerrigan.
In an effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, Murphy spoke out candidly about his own problems with post-traumatic stress disorder. It was known during Murphy's lifetime as "battle fatigue" and "shell shock", terminology that dated back to World War I. He called on the government to give increased consideration and study to the emotional impact of combat experiences, and to extend health care benefits to war veterans. As a result of legislation introduced by U.S. Congressman Olin Teague five months after Murphy's 1971 death, the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio was dedicated in 1973 and is now a part of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.
After the war, they took Army dogs and rehabilitated them for civilian life. But they turned soldiers into civilians immediately, and let 'em sink or swim.
He appeared in 44 films throughout his career. During the 1950s and 1960s, he was cast primarily in Westerns. In 1955, he played himself in the film To Hell and Back which became the biggest hit in the history of Universal Studios at the time. He performed in a handful of television productions and was the star of the Whispering Smith series.
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Fm-2 seems to have a good dive-speed turns good, but have inferior guns, it also lacks much of the ruggedness it should have, for example the Yak3 seems to soak up about 3 times more 20mm before it decides to die, than the Fm2.
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I agree with Save on his perception of its ruggedness. The IL2 seems easier for me to down than a Yak3 for that matter.
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"To Hell and Back," by Audie Murphy is an excellent book.
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Hollywood stars of the 1940s put careers on hold to fight for freedom. Movie stars of World War II earned more than 300 medals and awards that honor their valor. U.S. awards and medals include Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Crosses, Air Medals, Bronze Stars, Presidential Unit Citations, Purple Hearts, and a Congressional Medal of Honor.
Number of Hollywood stars of the 2000's that put careers on hold to fight: 0
Number of awards earned: 0
Number of medals earned: 0
True that no Hollywood big shots have served in recent campaigns but don't forget about Pat Tillman. He gave up his pro football career and ended up paying the ultimate sacrifice.... Just wanted to point that out, sorry for the hi-jack. Now back to the FM-2 discussion!
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Some photos I took of an FM2 at a recent fly-in. This particular bird is owned by Greg Shelton of Collinsville, OK, and has been re-engined with a Pratt and Whitney engine, or rather, it's an FM-2 with an F4F engine.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j89/ChpGLCorps/IMG_1766_zps8970f0d2.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j89/ChpGLCorps/IMG_1770_zps110ccb4a.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j89/ChpGLCorps/IMG_1762_zps87289a9b.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j89/ChpGLCorps/IMG_1678_zps1f8623a2.jpg)
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He better take a closer look at that skin before submitting it. Looks like VF-3 markings, but that shouldn't be on a tricolor Wildcat.
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Some photos I took of an FM2 at a recent fly-in. This particular bird is owned by Greg Shelton of Collinsville, OK, and has been re-engined with a Pratt and Whitney engine, or rather, it's an FM-2 with an F4F engine.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j89/ChpGLCorps/IMG_1766_zps8970f0d2.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j89/ChpGLCorps/IMG_1770_zps110ccb4a.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j89/ChpGLCorps/IMG_1762_zps87289a9b.jpg)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j89/ChpGLCorps/IMG_1678_zps1f8623a2.jpg)
Nice. :aok
Some from WWII Weekend a few years back:
(http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o460/caldera_08/CIMG0029.jpg~original) (http://s343.photobucket.com/user/caldera_08/media/CIMG0029.jpg.html)
(http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o460/caldera_08/CIMG0033.jpg~original) (http://s343.photobucket.com/user/caldera_08/media/CIMG0033.jpg.html)
(http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o460/caldera_08/CIMG0063.jpg~original) (http://s343.photobucket.com/user/caldera_08/media/CIMG0063.jpg.html)
(http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o460/caldera_08/CIMG0030.jpg~original) (http://s343.photobucket.com/user/caldera_08/media/CIMG0030.jpg.html)
(http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o460/caldera_08/CIMG0061.jpg~original) (http://s343.photobucket.com/user/caldera_08/media/CIMG0061.jpg.html)
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The Wildcat sure is a nifty little bird.
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He better take a closer look at that skin before submitting it. Looks like VF-3 markings, but that shouldn't be on a tricolor Wildcat.
Plus it shouldn't be on an FM2 anyways, even if the FM2 has a F4F engine.
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Plus it shouldn't be on an FM2 anyways, even if the FM2 has a F4F engine.
As for that second one, double-check those markings. The red surround on the national insignia was only used for a brief period in mid/late-1943, while the overall gloss sea blue camo scheme wasn't introduced until late-1944/early-1945. Replace it with the insignia blue surround and it should be good, though.
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The main landing gear contraption is pretty funny. Also looks rather flimsy (thickness of the bars) for something that has to withstand a controlled crash on the flight deck.
Was it built this way so one hydraulic system could lift both together?
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The main landing gear contraption is pretty funny. Also looks rather flimsy (thickness of the bars) for something that has to withstand a controlled crash on the flight deck.
Was it built this way so one hydraulic system could lift both together?
The F4F gear were hand cranked up and down, iirc it was a chain drive.
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The F4F gear were hand cranked up and down, iirc it was a chain drive.
If I recall correctly, the later model F4F's and FM2's had hydraulic landing gear. In "The Big E", a book about the Enterprise, the author remarks that the deck crew no longer had to watch the fighter pilots' heads bob up and down as they cranked up the gear.
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If I recall correctly, the later model F4F's and FM2's had hydraulic landing gear. In "The Big E", a book about the Enterprise, the author remarks that the deck crew no longer had to watch the fighter pilots' heads bob up and down as they cranked up the gear.
I have been unable to find any evidence that the F4F/FM2's ever used hydraulics to actuate the landing gear. I did find mention that some privately owned F4F/FM2's had been converted to an electric motor to actuate the landing gear. I've even found pictures online of FM2 cockpits that clearly show the landing gear cranks.
Could it be that you are thinking of the transition from the F4F's to the F6F's?
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Nice pix of well preserved planes..
But - surely - it is apt to add a couple of quotes from Dr Ray Stantz..
"He's an ugly little spud, isn't he?"
& even [ if its not going too far] - "A disgusting blob".
I can see one reason why it was the USN's 2nd choice - even to the B.Buffalo..
& some old CV skipper with aesthetic sensibilities likely said something like,
"You can't park that thing here."
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:aok
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Why does that FM2 have a small door/hatch with a window near the tail? Was it capable of carrying a passenger?
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Why does that FM2 have a small door/hatch with a window near the tail? Was it capable of carrying a passenger?
I believe the one pictured was modified with a passenger compartment.
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If you've never seen this it's an absolutely amazing story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_32ZspW80v4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_32ZspW80v4)
Ho t@rd
:rock